I’ve lived in the Phoenix area for more than 25 years, and each year I’ve promised myself that I would get to Las Noches de las Luminarias (literally, The Nights of The Lights) at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

The powerful saguaro appears to guard the adobe house decorated with luminarias.

Two nights ago, I kept my promise. At first I was disappointed that I could find no one to go with me, but, once there, I was thankful for the chance to wander alone through the paths lit with the soft glow of more that 8,000 hand-light luminarias and thousands of twinkling white lights.

I was delighted by the sounds of jazz, blues, flamenco guitar, didgeridoo, and a hand-bell choir, along with stories told by a Native American storyteller. I finished my evening with a hand-warming cup of hot chocolate and more jazz in the garden.

And of course, because this is a post about The Nights of The Lights and because I love taking shots of the moon, I must include the picture I took last night of the most magnificent Light of the Night, the last full moon of 2012. (Click on any image for descriptions and slideshow.)

Several years ago, the Gardens hosted an exhibit by Dale Chihuly. Three glass cacti remain to greet visitors.

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11 thoughts on “Las Noches de las Luminarias”

I was in Phoenix in late Aug and early Sept by myself to visit the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Jerome and The Cameron Trading Post, plus the Chapel of the Holy Cross and Montezuma Castle. I enjoyed traveling alone and saw so much and met some wonderful people on my tours. I wanted to visit the gardens but time did not permit it. You live in a wonderful place and I hope to return again to see things I missed. Your beautiful photos gave me encouragement.